Potato-separator.



S. GARFIELD. POTATQ SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED B20226. 191s.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS*SHEET 1 THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHIL, WASHINGTON. D.

S. GARFIELD. POTATO SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED DEO.26.1913.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915 a'huenton 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

115 NOR/HQ PETF'RS co PHOIO LIT/40 WASHINUION, 0 c

S. GARFIELD. POTATO SEPARATOR. APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 26. 1913 PatentedJan. 5, 1915.

3SHEETS-SHEET 3 SAMUEL GARFIELD, OF FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.

POTATO-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. a, rain.

Application filed December 26, 1913. Serial No. 808,825.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL GARFIELD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Farmington township, in thecounty of Warren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Potato-Separators; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in potato digging machinescomprising elevating mechanisms and the primary object of the inventionis to provide an improved receiving and shaking device onto which thepotatoes are dropped for the purpose of removing any soil which may haveclung to them.

A secondary object is to so construct the above mentioned device as torender it adjustable to a greater or less inclination.

Still another object is to construct the support forthe receiver andshaker in such a manner that the potatoes will be discharged from therear end thereof over a comparatively small area, thus facilitating thework of the farmhands who follow the machine and pick up the potatoesdug by said machine.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in certain novelfeatures of construction and combination herein described and claimedand shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved potato digger; Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, parts being broken away and in section; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectionshowing the manner in which the shaking rods are pivoted to the rockshaft; and F ig. 6 is a detail side elevation of a portion of themachine showing a slightly modified detail of construction.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, 1 have shown my improvedpotato digger as comprising a main frame 1 supported by an axle 2carrying rigid wheels 3 on its opposite ends. Pivotally mounted near thecenter of the axle 2 are downwardly inclined bars 4 which are connectedto the opposite sides of a shovel plow 5, independent mold boards 6being employed on each by means of a master gear side of said shovelplow. The shovel plow 5 is preferably provided with upstanding flanges 7along its opposite edges'for a purpose to appear. Passing aroundsprocket wheels 8 carried by a shaft 9 at the forward end of the bars 4and other sprocket wheels 10 carried by a shaft 11 journaled in bearingson the frame '1, are endless chains 12 which are connected by slats 13to constitute a conveyer for receiving the potatoes from the shovel plow5, the flanges 7 on said plow preventing the potatoes from rolling offthe sides thereof. The shaft 11 is driven 1% carried on the axle 2, saidmaster gear meshing with a pinion 15 on said shaft 11. The shaft 11carries, near one end, a bevel gear 16 which meshes with a bevel gear 17supported by a bracket depending from the frame 1 and said bevel gear 17carries a wrist pin 18 for a purpose to appear.

J ournaled in brackets 19 depending from the rear end of the frame 1, isa rock shaft 20 having its central portion bowed downwardly as at 21.One end of this rock shaft carries a lever 22 to the upper end of whichis pivoted an operating link 23 which projects forwardly withinconvenient reach of the drivers seat. The link 23 is provided on itslower edge with a plurality of rack teeth 24 said teeth being adapted toengage a single tooth 25 carried by a standard 26 on the frame 1 saidlink 23 being held downwardly by means of a coil spring 27.

Journaled at suitable intervals through the rock shaft 20 aresubstantially upright pivot studs 28 which carry lateral guide sleeves29 on their upper ends. A plurality of rods 30 are mounted to slidewithin the sleeves 29, said rods being maintained in parallel relationby means of a connecting and spacing link 31 pivoted to their innerends. This link 31 is connected by a pitman rod 32 with the wrist pin 18on the bevel gear 17. By the above described construction, when theentire machine is propelled forwardly over the soil and the shovel 5 islowered by means of a lever 33, the petatoes will be raised from theground by said shovel. conveyed upwardly upon the slats 13 anddischarged upon the rods 30, said rods then having an oscillatingmovement due to the rotation of the bevel gear 17 by the driving meansbetween said gear and the main ax e.

The brackets 19 may be supported rigidly by the frame 1 as shown inFigs. 1 to 5 or they may be provided with slots 19 at their upper endsthrough which bolts 19 pass and thus adjustably secure said brackets tothe frame 1. By this detail of construction, the rock shaft 20 and thesleeves 29 carried thereby may be shifted forwardly or rearwardly toimpart a greater movement to the front ends of the bars 30 than thatimparted to the rear ends thereof or vice versa. Imparting a greatermovement to the front ends of said bars the potatoes are violentlyshaken when they are discharged upon said ends but as they work towardthe rear ends of the bars and most of the earth is removed from themthis movement is diminished thus preventing the potatoes from beingdischarged to the sides of the machine and allowing them to fall in acomparatively narrow row across the field. The rock shaft 20 isobviously bowed downwardly at its center for the purpose of more readilyretaining the potatoes on the rods 30 and said rock shaft may be rotatedto adjust said rods to a greater or less in clination. This also is avery important feature of my invention since, when digging in light soilless shaking of the potatoes is required than when digging in heavy soiland as above stated, I may vary the angle of the rods 30 so as to allowthe potatoes to pass more or less quickly therefrom.

Although I have described a potato digger of one construction to whichmy improved receiving. and shaking device may be applied, it will beclearly understood that it will operate to equal advantage with any typeof machine having digging and elevating means for the potatoes. It willalso be understood that although I have described details ofconstruction with more or less minuteness, I do not wish to be limitedthereto otherwise than as specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. The combination with a frame means for elevating the potatoes abovethe ground, of a downwardly bowed rock shaft journaled on said frame,guides having pivotal mountings on said rock shaft, rods slidable withinsaid guides, a spacing and connecting link pivoted to said rods, meansfor oscillating said rods and their guides and means for rocking saidshaft and the guides and rods carried thereby.

2. The combination with a frame means for elevating the potatoes abovethe ground, of a downwardly bowed rock shaft journaled on said frame,upright stub shafts journaled through said rock shaft, lateral sleeveson said stub shafts, rods loosely mounted in said sleeves, a connectingand spacing link pivoted to said rods, means for oscillating said rodsand means for rocking said rock shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL GARFIELD.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. Sonornznn. GEORGE F. HENRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

